Tunbridge Wells, Upper Grosvenor Road

Sep
08

Update - Tuesday September 08

Our work along Upper Grosvenor Road is progressing and will be completed by Friday 11 September. 

Our work will then begin on Sandhurst Road from 14 September to 7 December, from the junction with Birkin Road to the junction outside the old gas holder station. To ensure the safety of everyone around the work area, we will need to close the road while we undertake this work.

We will continue our work in phases:

Phase 1 – Full Road Closure

Monday 14 September 2026 – Monday 12 October 2026

Works will take place between Upper Grosvenor Road and Sandhurst Park.

This phase involves the installation of a 355mm polyethylene (PE) gas main using an open-cut excavation method.

Traffic management: Sandhurst Road will be under a full road closure for the duration of this phase. 

Phase 2 – Temporary Traffic Signals

Monday 12 October 2026 – Friday 23 November 2026

Works will continue between Sandhurst Park and Ferndale Road.

This phase involves the insertion of a 125mm polyethylene (PE) gas main.

Traffic management: Two-way or multi-way temporary traffic signals will be in place, with associated side road closures where required. 

Phase 3 – Final Section of Sandhurst Road

Monday 23 November 2026 – Monday 7 December 2026

Works will take place between Ferndale Road and The Beeches.

This final phase also involves the insertion of a 125mm polyethylene (PE) gas main.

Traffic management: A full road closure will be in place for this section. We will work to complete this phase as quickly as possible, and the closure will be removed early if the works are finished ahead of schedule.

We understand roadworks can be disruptive and appreciate the community’s patience while these essential upgrades are completed. SGN will continue to keep residents, businesses and local stakeholders updated throughout the project, including any changes to traffic management or programme dates.

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Our work along Upper Grosvenor Road is running slightly behind schedule.

We had expected to complete our work by the end of August, but due to unforeseen engineering difficulties, we've needed to extend our closure until Sunday 13 September.

Upper Grosvenor Road remains closed for safety between Grosvenor Road and Meadow Road, while Hanover Road is still shut between its junctions with Upper Grosvenor Road and Mount Ephraim Road.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the delay to completing this essential work.

Once this phase of work finishes, our engineers will move to nearby Sandhurst Road. We'll be replacing our old pipes near Oak Road from Monday 14 September with a road closure in place. We'll then progress away from Oak Road and we'll be able to complete the rest of this work with temporary traffic lights in operation rather than a road closure.

We'll be hosting a drop-in session where our team will be on-hand to answer any questions you may have about our work in Sandhurst Road. Please visit us at Zorba Meze & Grill, 4 Upper Grosvenor Road (TN1 2EN), between 12pm and 2pm on Thursday 3 September.

We're preparing to carry out essential gas network upgrades along Upper Grosvenor Road.

This work will ensure properties across Tunbridge Wells continue to receive a safe and reliable gas supply for many years to come. It's part of a 30-year programme to replace our old metal mains, reaching the end of their useful lives, with new plastic pipe.

The work we need to carry out is significant. Our engineers will be replacing approximately 3.5km of two large diameter gas mains, plus renewing any metal services pipes serving individual adjoining properties.

Due to the scale of this project, and following close consultation with Kent County Council, we'll be carrying out work in two phases. The first of which will start on Monday 5 May, and last approximately five months. We will then clear our site and return in 2026 to complete our second phase of work.

Phase one

From Monday 5 May, we'll be working in Upper Grosvenor Road, from its junction with North Farm Road to Grosvenor Bridge.

To ensure everyone's safety while we replace our pipes, we need to close Upper Grosvenor Road to motorists. The closure area will move as we progress along the road.

Signed diversions will be in place for affected road users.

What does this closure mean for me?

  • Vehicle access for residents will be maintained. Our engineers and local signage will inform affected residents as our closure area moves.
  • Bus routes will be impacted by this closure. Please check with your service provider for updates to routes, timetables or stop locations.
  • Bin collection days will not be changed unless you hear differently from your service provider. We're working closely with the local authority to ensure collections can be made with as little disruption as possible.

A map outlining our work area and diversion routes can be seen below.

 

Update Sunday 1 June 

Our engineering work is progressing well and we have now laid in approximately 400m of new plastic pipe.

Work is now under way to repair the road surface on this section.

All being well, we’re hoping we'll be able to reopen the junction between Sandhurst Road and North Farm Road towards the middle of next week. 

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Map showing the work area and diversion routes for upgrades being carried out in Upper Grosvenor Road

We recognise roadworks can be frustrating, and we're sorry for any inconvenience this essential work may cause. However, the new plastic pipe has a lifespan of 80 years, which means when the work is complete, nearby residents and businesses will be able to enjoy the benefits of a safe and reliable gas supply long into the future.